Clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold adaptation method

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are described herein for determining a transmit power based on clear channel assessment (CCA) thresholds. A station (STA) associated with a first Basic Service Set (BSS) may receive, from an access point (AP) associated with the first BSS, a clear channel assessment (CCA) value for a group of STAs associated with a second BSS. The CCA value may indicate a minimum CCA threshold for a packet received from the second BSS. The STA may then determine, based on the CCA value, a STA specific CCA parameter and a target CCA parameter. The target CCA parameter may be greater than or equal to the STA specific CCA parameter. Based on the STA specific CCA parameter and the target CCA parameter, the STA may determine a target transmit power control (TPC) parameter of the STA, wherein the sum of target TPC parameter and target CCA parameter is constant.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for use in an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 station (STA) associated with a first Basic Service Set (BSS), the method comprising:
 receiving, from an access point (AP) associated with the first BSS, a transmit power control_clear channel assessment_constant (TPC_CCA_constant) for a plurality of STAs associated with a second BSS, wherein the TPC_CCA_constant indicates a CCA threshold to be used by a plurality of STAs associated with the first BSS; 
 determining, based on the TPC_CCA_constant, a STA specific CCA parameter for the STA, wherein the STA specific CCA parameter is greater than a minimum CCA threshold; and 
 determining, based on the STA specific CCA parameter, a target transmit power control (TPC) parameter of the STA for transmission to the AP associated with the first BSS, wherein a sum of the target TPC parameter and the STA specific CCA parameter is constant. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a product of a linear unit of the target TPC parameter and a linear unit of the STA specific CCA parameter is constant. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: adjusting a transmit power of the STA based on the target TPC parameter. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the transmit power is less than or equal to a maximum transmit power of the STA. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the STA specific CCA parameter indicates a CCA threshold for a packet received from the plurality of STAs associated with the second BSS. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the TPC_CCA_constant for the plurality of STAs associated with the second BSS is a minimum value of a ratio of a CCA threshold. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the AP is an IEEE 802.11 cluster head configured to control TPC and CCA for a plurality of STAs associated with the first BSS. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the TPC_CCA_constant is determined based on a baseline transmit power and a CCA threshold permitted by the first BSS. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the STA specific CCA parameter is less than a maximum CCA threshold. 
     
     
       10. An Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 station (STA) associated with a first Basic Service Set (BSS), the STA comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive, from an access point (AP) associated with the first BSS, a transmit power control_clear channel assessment_constant (TPC_CCA_constant) for a plurality of STAs associated with a second BSS, wherein the TPC_CCA_constant indicates a CCA threshold to be used by a plurality of STAs associated with the first BSS; and 
 a processor configured to:
 determine, based on the TPC_CCA_constant, a STA specific CCA parameter for the STA, wherein the STA specific CCA parameter is greater than a minimum CCA threshold; and 
 determine, based on the STA specific CCA parameter, a target transmit power control (TPC) parameter of the STA for transmission to the AP associated with the first BSS, wherein a sum of the target TPC parameter and the STA specific CCA parameter is constant. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The STA of  claim 10 , wherein a product of a linear unit of the target TPC parameter and a linear unit of the STA specific CCA parameter is constant. 
     
     
       12. The STA of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to adjust a transmit power of the STA based on the target TPC parameter. 
     
     
       13. The STA of  claim 12 , wherein the transmit power is less than or equal to a maximum transmit power of the STA. 
     
     
       14. The STA of  claim 10 , wherein the STA specific CCA parameter indicates a CCA threshold for a packet received from the plurality of STAs associated with the second BSS. 
     
     
       15. The STA of  claim 10 , wherein the TPC_CCA_constant for the plurality of STAs associated with the second BSS is a minimum value of a ratio of a CCA threshold. 
     
     
       16. The STA of  claim 10 , wherein the AP is an IEEE 802.11 cluster head configured to control TPC and CCA for a plurality of STAs associated with the first BSS. 
     
     
       17. The STA of  claim 10 , wherein the TPC_CCA_constant is determined based on a baseline transmit power and a CCA threshold permitted by the first BSS. 
     
     
       18. The STA of  claim 10 , wherein the STA specific CCA parameter is less than a maximum CCA threshold.